The Revolver Golden Gods Awards Show Returns

The biggest names in hard-rock and heavy-metal rocked Los Angeles on Thursday, May 2 at the fifth annual Revolver Golden Gods Award Show, filling L.A. LIVE’s Club Nokia with blood, sweat and tears in a three-and-a-half hour show honoring the best in the genres. As always, the event featured the sort of groundbreaking performances and once-in-a-lifetime collaborations that America’s only hard-rock and heavy-metal show has become known for. Trending worldwide on Twitter throughout the night, the sold-out event was broadcast live in its entirety on national television for the first time through AXS TV and broadcast in the United States and key international markets through Xbox LIVE® and Revolver’s Facebook page.

Emotions ran high throughout the evening with Thursday’s loss of iconic Slayer guitarist Jeff Hanneman. Slayer’s Kerry King took a moment to remember Hanneman as he took the stage, raising a shot and calling for a “moment of noise” for his band mate. The heavy, yet celebratory tone carried throughout the show as presenters and performers honored Hanneman, including Ghost B.C.’s Papa Emeritus II, who removed his papal hat in his honor. Hanneman was also honored in the evening’s tribute segment, remembering fallen heroes throughout the industry including Deftones bassist Chi Cheng and Beastie Boy Adam Yauch.

As in previous years, the 2013 Revolver Golden Gods Award Show featured one-of-a-kind surprise collaborations and show-stopping moments that honored the past, present and future of heavy music. Some of the guest performances on Thursday included Anthrax with special guests Phil Anselmo and Rex Brown on Pantera’s “This Love,” and “Reign in Blood” in tribute to Jeff Hanneman, Halestorm with special guest David Draiman of Disturbed and Device on Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love,” Five Finger Death Punch with special guest Rob Halford on their new single “Lift Me Up” and Rob Zombie and John 5 on White Zombie’s “Thunder Kiss ’65,” Stone Sour with special guests Clown and Chris Fehn of Slipknot on Black Sabbath’s “Children of the Grave” and Danzig with special guest Doyle Wolfgang Von Frankenstein playing a classic Misfits set.

The Dillinger Escape Plan were at their most unleashed with one of the evening’s most intense performances with singer Greg Puciato bloodying his entire face. Special guest Chino Moreno of the Deftones joined the band on Depeche Mode’s “Behind the Wheel,” with Puciato closing the memorable set with a series of fire-breathing bursts of flames. The evening’s most-anticipated moment arrived as legendary rockers Metallica closed out the show with an epic four-song set including hits “Disposable Heroes,” “For Whom the Bell Tolls” and “Seek and Destroy,” with Rob Halford making a return appearance to the stage for a collaboration on Judas Priest’s “Rapid Fire.”

Viewers tuned in Thursday not only to see the rare performances, but also to see who took home the night’s coveted awards. Rob Zombie was presented with this year’s Golden God Award (presented by Sumerian Records®), performers and hard-rock icons Metallica received the Ronnie James Dio Lifetime Achievement Award (presented by Ernie Ball®), and the Riff Lord Award (presented by EMG Pickups®) went to Black Sabbath axman Tony Iommi. Fans everywhere were given the opportunity to vote to help decide who would take home the remaining awards. Over 3.25 million votes were cast, and the following is a complete list of the fan-voted 2013 Revolver Golden Gods Award Winners: